I think it could have gone ahead, but 911 was bad timing for Singer's original project. Spider-Man cut its twin towers scene after the attack and a lot of studios projects were put on hold back then. If the new age of apocalypse style X-Men: which Singer is shooting this year, proves to be a hit, then Fox is likely to push for a more installments and maybe Singer returns to direct that Battlestar Galactica he always wanted, it might be more mystic like the dark Warlock movies or have the 80s V feel to it. 911 was a big thing for Singer's tv career. Big studios couldn't afford to wait when they were competing with others, time is money, so they pulled the plug on stuff that wasn't immediately going to fly

One of the most highly anticipated new sci-fi series, a revival of 70s cult classic Battlestar Galactica, has been shelved after director Bryan Singer jumped ship to direct 'X-Men 2' and even the involvement of 'Star Trek II' director Nicholas Meyer couldn't save the project.Together with producer Tom DeSanto, Singer was one of the integral creative forces behind the project, which was intented to debut on the Fox network in Fall 2002. After Singer said he wouldn't be able to direct the pilot episode, Fox withdrew its support, according to Variety.In last-ditch attempt to save the Battlestar Galactica revival producers brought on board writer-producer Nicholas Meyer. Meyer has a long association with Star Trek, co-writing both 'Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home' and 'Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country,' and directing 'The Undiscovered Country' and 'Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan.' However, even the addition of such a high-profile director failed to reverse Fox's decision.Singer was a driving force behind the Galactica revival, enlisting help from Studios USA to produce the series. Owing to Singer's success with 'X-Men,' starring Patrick Stewart (Jean-Luc Picard), the Fox Network agreed to air the series, which was intended to air concurrently on the Sci-Fi Channel.The pilot was originally scheduled to be shot early next year, but Singer's departure has put the entire project in jeopardy. Executive producer Tom DeSanto still remains at the helm, but there is currently no network committed to airing the series.A petition to support DeSanto's efforts has been set up at BattlestarGalactica.com. Currently, over nine thousand fans have signed the petition.Richard Hatch, who played Apollo in the original series, has thrown his full support behind the revival. "I believe in Tom DeSanto, whom I have come to know both as an extraordinary human being and a very courageous producer," he wrote at his official web site. "He is, in fact, the only high profiled producer I know who has not only recognized the inherent potential of Galactica, but more importantly, has had the guts to take on the extremely challenging powers that be; to accomplish what most in his field believe to be an impossible and fruitless task."Created by Glenn A. Larson, the original Battlestar Galactica ran for 22 episodes between 1978-1979. The series was eventually cancelled because of high production costs - each episode cost $1 million to make, an astronomical figure for the day. A short-lived series entitled Galactica: 1980 followed, but was universally panned and cancelled after six episodes.Any decision about the future of the Battlestar Galactica revival will depend on the current behind-the-scenes talks between Singer and Studios USA, and whether a network can be found to air the series. Interestingly, Enterprise home network UPN was said to be in the running for the project back in March (story) but there are as yet no indications it would still be interested in the show.
O.

Contrasting the DeSanto and Moore pilots
Created by Mark Fornale on February 20, 2004
Last revised: January 25, 2005

A lot of people criticized the original BSG for being too clichéd or too G rated but ignored the fact that BSG was a dark premise that could have been far better than it was. It was produced in the 1970s where censorship rules were stricter than they are today.

Bryan Singer and Tom DeSanto set out to revive BSG and return it to its dark roots. Unfortunately it was cancelled when it was so close to being filmed. David Eick with Ron Moore took control of the project and went for the re-imagining course instead.

Let us compare and contrast and look at the similarities between Singer/DeSanto and Moore. Note -- The Adama/Orin references meant that Singer and DeSanto kept re-tweaking the character back and forth from Adama to Orin.

Singer & DeSanto -- Darker, grittier than the original series and not family friendly nor a kiddie flick.
Moore -- Darker, grittier than the original series and not family friendly nor a kiddie flick.

Singer & DeSanto -- Human Cylons infiltrating the Colonials. Anyone could be a Cylon.
Moore -- Human Cylons infiltrating the Colonials. Anyone could be a Cylon.

Singer & DeSanto -- Newly advanced CGI Cylon Centurions that would have been featured in action sequences.
Moore -- Newly advanced CGI Cylon Centurions that were only featured in two scenes and basically stood in the background and did nothing. (Damn you Sci-Fi. I wanted to see them in action.)

Singer & DeSanto -- Kept the origins of the Cylons intact but gave them a new semi Borg-like / X-Files black oil motive due to a Cylon Civil War. However, that story arc would have most likely ended by the finale of the first season, so the Cylons could have reverted back to their old ways.
Moore -- Didn't bother to watch the entire TOS, therefore couldn't understand the Cylon's origins nor motives (by just watching the short version of the pilot) so he re-imagined them to be machines turning on their makers.

Singer & DeSanto -- Female President Mara, and always at odds with Commander Adama/Orin.
Moore -- Female President Roslin, and always at odds with Commander Adama.

Singer & DeSanto -- Galactica to be decommissioned because the Cylons had not been heard from in over 20 years.
Moore -- Galactica to be decommissioned because the Cylons had not been heard from in over 40 years.

Singer & DeSanto -- Starbuck, a manic depressive drunk, breaks free from his slump and becomes a hero upon the Cylon attack.
Moore -- Tigh, a manic depressive drunk, breaks free from his slump and becomes a hero upon the Cylon attack.

Singer & DeSanto -- The Cylons return and ambush New Kobol with the new advanced Cylon Raiders and Missiles from the Basestar in a scene that could have been compared to such films as Armageddon or Deep Impact. Also newly enhanced Centurions would later launch a ground assault.
Moore -- The Cylons return and ambush Kobol except no Cylons are seen (Damn that Sci-Fi's tight budget) so instead the viewers are treated to mushroom clouds in the background and a semi-spectacular scene at Baltar's apartment. Also the Holocaust and destruction of the fleet was dialogue driven.

Singer & DeSanto -- After the Cylon ambush, Commander Adama/Orin and President Mara decides to begin the quest to Earth based on faith.
Moore -- After the Cylon ambush. Commander Adama and President Roslin decides to begin the quest to Earth based on a lie.

Singer & DeSanto -- A surprise ending with a twist. Apollo, Adama's Son/Orin's Father is a Cylon.
Moore -- A surprise ending with a twist. Sharon Boomer is a Cylon.

Singer & DeSanto -- TOS original cast members were practically knocking down his door for a role (including Jane Seymour.) However, only Dirk Benedict and Herb Jefferson would have been featured and the surprise cameo of Richard Hatch at the end.
Moore -- Every TOS cast member declined any roles that were offered to them.

Singer & DeSanto -- Pilot that was intended to be an updated semi-continuation, fix the flaws and extend the original series.
Moore -- Pilot that was intended to update the story, fix the flaws and bury the original series.

The Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming project was a proof-of-concept, professionally-created mock movie trailer created, produced, directed, and starred by Original Series star and Galactica spin-off author Richard Hatch. Under his production company, Su-Shann, Hatch leveraged the talent of many TOS stars, including John Colicos, in an effort to convince Universal Studios, the owners to the rights of the Battlestar Galactica franchise, to greenlight a new series or motion picture.The elaborate trailer features new concepts, impressive acting, and very exciting special effects. Hatch visited many science-fiction conventions to show the trailer and it proved to be a hit among fans that viewed it.However, Hatch never succeeded in getting Universal's attention